Monday, July 18, 2016

As you surely know, yesterday marked the 75th anniversary of the end of Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak. For a period of two months DiMaggioowned Baseball. From May 15 to July 16, 1941 DiMaggio slashed .408/.463/.717/1.181 while slugging 15 home runs, 16 doubles, four triples, driving in 55 runners and scoring 56 times himself. He also struck out only five times in 247 plate appearances. In other words, he was a one man wrecking machine. The Yankees went 41-13-2 during that stretch.

In honor of his rare feat check out the pics above of an display at the Sports Museum of Los Angeles that celebrates the 56-game hitting streak. As you may know, this museum has once again opened its door to the general public. It had been closed and available only through special tours and private events. Now, sports fans of all stripes can visit the 20,000 square feet museum on the weekends. Via a press release:

“We are excited to be able to give Dodgers fans and sports fans in general the opportunity to view up close these priceless, one-of-a-kind objects,” Cypres said. “The items in the Sports Museum of Los Angeles bridge the history of the Dodgers in Brooklyn and Los Angeles and it has been a labor of love to acquire them and make them available to the generations of sports fans in Southern California.”

If you have never had a chance to visit then you should do it right away. In my opinion it's the best Baseball museum outside of Cooperstown, and clearly the best Dodger collection I've ever seen. Go here for information. It is open to the general public only on weekends from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and over and students with ID, and $9 for children ages 5-12. On-site parking is $8. Below is a brief listing of what you can see there:

T206 Honus Wagner trading card – the Holy Grail among collectors

Gallery dedicated to Negro Leagues and Jackie Robinson, including his game-worn jersey and bat

Handful of dirt and first ball thrown out on opening of Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field in 1913

Don Drysdale collection from high school days in Van Nuys through Brooklyn and L.A. Dodgers

World Series trophies from 1970-2000

Willie Mays and Willie McCovey game-worn jerseys

Pics above provided by the Sports Museum of Los Angeles. Below are more links to check out:

This Day in Dodger History: In 1939 the Dodgers trade for Pee Wee Reese from the Red Sox for $35,000 and a handful of other players. In 1949 Jackie Robinson testified in front of the House Committee on Un-American Activities to disagree with singer and actor Paul Robeson’s belief that African-Americans would refuse to fight in any war against Russia due to the country’s history of racial discrimination. In 1957 Gil Hodges his his 12th career gran slam to tie a NL record.

Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com; "Dodgers not rushing Kershaw back: Ace could be activated for next weekend's series."

"If he feels well and the docs support it, that return on the road or
at home, that decision will be made," said Roberts. "We're trying to
give it a couple more days to see how he feels after the [simulated
game] exertion, whether he feels refreshed, or sore and we have to
adjust.

"Everything with Clayton is on the table. The thing is that after the
live BP, we're just making sure he feels 100 percent ready to come
back. When he does come back we want him to stay healthy, so we're being
extra cautious like we would with all players. An extra day or two will
give us more clarity. We've been reluctant to put a return date and we
have to defer to his health."

Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com; "Dodgers sign three more picks before deadline: Club inks first 13 selections and 33 of 42 overall."

Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig wore cleats with Scully’s image drawn
on them along with the phrase “Win For Vin“ on the outside of the left
foot and the hashtag “#ITFDB” (Scully’s trademark phrase, “It’s time for
Dodger baseball”) on the right.

“I’m using a different pair of shoes every day and the guy who
designs them surprises me with something different every day,” Puig said
through an interpreter. “Today, he surprised me with these. I think
it’s good that we should try to ‘Win for Vin’ during his last year.”

While it's strange for a pitcher to take part, it's not surprising that
Ohtani won. In only 130 at-bats this season, the two-way player has hit
.331/.444/.631 with 10 home runs. Of course, on the mound, he has a 2.03
ERA and has struck out 140 batters in 115 innings -- even setting a Japanese velocity record along the way -- so this isn't some back of the rotation-type hurler.

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“There’s nothing like wearing a Dodger jersey. There’s nothing like it in sports. I don’t care that I’ve never been anywhere else. I don’t care. There’s nothing like wearing a Dodger jersey.” -- A.J. Ellis